Sat, Aug 22, 2026

First Responder 5k Run/Walk

Atlanta, GA

Registration openAnnual since at least 2022

Entry is $40 now and rises to $45 after Aug 1, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the First Responder 5k Run/Walk

The course runs through the area around The Battery and is hilly enough that you will feel it. First responder vehicles and displays line the event area, and the Atlanta Braves mascot shows up along with lawn games and a spray ground for after you finish. The opening ceremony includes an honor guard presentation before everyone walks to the start together.

Packet pickup runs on the two evenings before the race at Cobb County Animal Control in Marietta, or you can grab your bib at the registration tent on race morning. Parking is available in the decks at The Battery, with a couple of free hours on non-event days covered under standard rates.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2025 results, this is a decent-sized field, with a competitive front end and a big recreational middle.

5K · 2025 results

392finishers

20:17winner

38:30median

1:04:54cutoff

Top 3: Dan Hess (20:17) · Filiberto Nunez (20:27) · Kelvin Kiplimo (21:03)

The First Responder 5k Run/Walk has been held every year since at least 2022. That is as far back as RunSignup's records for this race go, so it may well be older.

Where Would You Finish?

Enter a finish time to see where it lands against the most recent 5K results.

Median

See how your time stacks up nationally →

How we calculate these stats: RunSesh calculates these figures from the most recent published results of past editions, sourced from RunSignup. We show aggregates only: field size, winning and median times, and the cutoff. We never publish individual finisher tables. Last updated Jul 27, 2026.

Distances & Start Times

5K8/22/2026 08:00$40

5K8/22/2026 08:00$45

Going for a Time?

Set a goal and get a pace band: every mile split on a card sized for your phone lock screen, so race morning needs no math.

Plan Your Trip

Where to Stay

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Common Questions About the First Responder 5k Run/Walk

Will I finish last at the First Responder 5k Run/Walk?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 38:30, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:04:54, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the First Responder 5k Run/Walk a good first 5K?

A field of 392 is big enough that you will have company at your pace without feeling lost in a crowd. There is no qualifying time, and the finish-time spread above shows how varied the field really is. If it is your first 5K, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the First Responder 5k Run/Walk?

The 5K winner ran 20:17 while the median finisher took 38:30. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.

Where can I train for the First Responder 5k Run/Walk?

Join a local run club. Atlanta Run Club, Atlanta Track Club, Chattahoochee Road Runners and others in Atlanta welcome runners of all paces, and a weekly group run is the most reliable way to hold a training block together.